New claims for unemployment insurance kick up a bit, but remain at historically low levels

WASHINGTON—The number of Americans applying for first-time unemployment benefits rose last week, but remained at a historically low level consistent with an improving labor market.

Initial jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs across the economy, increased by 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 274,000 in the week ended May 16, the Labor Department said Thursday. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected 271,000 new claims.